Antonio Leon

Antonio Leon (3 June 1794-8 September 1847) was a general of Mexico during the Mexican-American War.

Biography
Antonio Leon was born in Huajuapan de Leon, Oaxaca, New Spain in 1794, and he joined the Mexican Army during the war of independence from Spain. In 1821, he led an army into Oaxaca, liberating the city from Spanish rule, and he became commander of Oaxaca after Mexico was granted independence. In 1841, he assisted in the overthrow of Anastasio Bustamante's centralist government, and he was promoted to colonel in 1842. When the Mexican-American War broke out, Leon was one of the commanders of the Mexican Army around Mexico City, and he decided to defend Molino del Rey to protect the nearby military academy students from the US Army's assault. Leon was killed in the battle of Molino del Rey on 8 September 1847.